Safety-deposit box



Jan. 31, 1928.

H. MARSHALL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX Filed Dec. 19 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1928.

H. MARSHALL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX Filed Dec. 19, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

EGLMES MARSHALL, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

SAFETY-DEPOSIT BOX.

Application filed December 19, 1922. Serial 'No. 607,768.

This invention is directed to improvements in a locking or sealing system for safety deposit receptacles, such as I have disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,437,001, issued November 28th, 192:2.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a system of the character referred to which is greatly simplified while being secure and more certain in preventing the surreptitious opening of the receptacles or the tampering with or the disturbing of the contents thereof.

More specifically, my present invention contemplates the use of a novel data slip or identification card which may be acted upon by means co-operating with the lid or cover of the box whereby ineradicable indicia or marks, such as perforations or stampings corresponding to the number appertaining to the box, may be automatically placed upon the card when the box is closed.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a deposit box and mechanism contained therein for fulfilling the foregoing objects while retaining the feature disclosed in my patent referred to, of positioning the card within the box in such manner as to display the patrons signature, through an opening formed in the front of the boxand which may be acted upon by means co-operating with the cover of the box whereby the card is mutilated adjacent the owners signature.

A further object is to provide such means in a simple and compact form which may occupy a minimum amount of space within a deposit box. A further object is the provision of all of the foregoing means'in a system which will obviate the necessity for individual keys by either the vault custodians or patrons.

An additional object is the provision of a novel lining for such a deposit box which is directed to the prevention of tampering with the box contents by the-possible bending or distorting of the box cover without causing the foregoing described means to function in marking the card.

My invention is hereinafter more fully described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety deposit box; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken through the front end of the box showing the card perforating means in normal co-operative position; Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner of actuating the card perforating means when the lid or cover of the box is raised from closed position; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional plan view taken substantially along the lines 4 l of Fig. 2; Fig. Eris a fragmentary plan view of the front poi tion of the deposit box; Fig. 6 is a view of the identification card; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional taken through one of the front corners of the box showing other card perforating means; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a card perforating member.

My present system contemplates the elimination of the necessity for a mechanical lock, such as is now in use upon deposit boxes, the responsibility for the safe keeping of the contents of the unlocked boxes being carried by the institution which leases the boxes to the patrons. In general, the system merely requires the use of a card which is tendered to the patronby the custodian of the vault chamber before access to the box is permitted. The card is signed by the patron in the presence of the custodian who thereupon stamps the time and date upon the card, and thereafter the custodian accompanics the patron to the particular designated box whereupon the custodian compares the signature of the new card with the signa ture on the card positioned within the box. Upon a satisfactory comparison, the patron receives the box and the new card. Before the patron closes the box for re-depositing in the vault, the old card, which was automatically marked upon the opening of the box by the patron, is withdrawn and the new card is then inserted. Upon leaving the vault the patron tenders the old card to the custodian whereupon it may be stamped with the time and date and filed away for future reference.

Describing the various elements comprising the means by which I carry out this system by the use of reference characters in Fig. 1, I show a suitable safety deposit box 10 provided with a hinged cover 11 which may have downwardly extending side flanges at 12 closely engaging the side walls 13 of the box. 1 provide an aperture 1% formed in the front wall 15 of the box whereby a signature on a card positioned within the box in a manner to be presently set forth, will be displayed.

Disposed inside of this front wall of the box, I position a transparent panel 16 suitably apertured as indicated at 17 to permit the projection of the cutting edges 18 of a perforating member 19, swingably mounted within the box adjacent the innersurface of the card. The swingable member 19 'is supported upon lugs 20 upset from the bottom wall of, the box-like frame 21 positioned within the box immediately adjacent the inner face of the card. This frame structure may be secured to the front wall of thebox by any suitable means such as shouldered bolt members 23. Disposed between the front wall 21 of the frame 21 and the front wall 15 of the box, I provide a flat partition strip :22 having an outwardly extending flange 22 abutting the end wall 15 of the box, the flange affording support for the transparentpanel'16, As shown in Fig. the panel and the flange member 22, as well as the wall 21 of the frame member 20, are secured'to the box structure by the bolts 23. There are, however, spacing members 1% disposed between the wall 21 and the member 22 whereby sufficient space is provided therebetween for the reception of a card C. The rear wall 21 of the frame 21 may be providedwith openings 21 to permit access to the nuts 25 engaging the inner ends of the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8.

bolts 23.

To simplify the perforating mechanism, the perforating member 19 may have the An upwardly curved portion 26 is adapted to be acted upon by a suitably mounted cam member 27 carried by a bifurcated bracket 28 secured to the cover of the box and positioned on the cover, to pass through a suitable opening 21 formed in the top wall of the frame 21. The bracket member 28 carries the cam member 27 between bifurcated ends 28*, there being a connecting web 28 which affords a shoulder for the abutment of the'cam member 27 in the mannershown in Fig.3, when the cam member is acting upon the perforating member 19 during the opening movement of the lid 11. i

' To maintain the perforating member normally out of contact with the card, a spring member 31 may be mounted upon a pin 30 comprising a hinged connection between the lugs 19 of the member 19 and the upwardly extending lugs 20 upset from the bottom wall of the frame member 21. One end of the spring may therefore extend-to engage the perforating member 19 to maintain it in a substantially retracting position as illustrated in Fig. 2, while the other end engages the front wall of the frame member 21, the lower end 19 being formed to abut the bottom wall of the frame 21.

The action of this perforating mechanism is as follows When the cover is swung into closed-position, the cam' member 27 swings out of abutting relation with the web 28 of its bracket 28, due to the engagement of the cam member 27 with the upper edge of the curved portion 26 ofthe perforating member 19; the cam member 27 during this movement being in a substantially vertical position.

As the cover is brought to closing position,

however, the end 27 of the cam member engages the bottom wall of the frame member I 21 and thereby causes the positioning of the To afford ready insertion of the card in the space provided therefor, while at the same time proportioning the card to have sufficient width whereby the card cannot be shifted out of position when once in the box,

1 form notches in the sides thereof, as indicated at 33, and a projecting corner 33 whereby the lowerportion of the card may occupy the entire transverse length'of the card space and-abut the spacing members 2 1. The card when being inserted is first tucked to the left with the corner 33 disposed beneath the left bolt 23 and then shifted'to the right to engagethe other bolt 23.

The card is provided with a perforation 3t 7 corresponding to the general contour of the open1ng'21 formed in the top wall of the frame member 21 whereby the upper portion of the card may be bent or folded along the dot and dash line as indicated at 35, Fig. 6, whence that portion of the card may lie horizontally in contact with the upper wall of the frame member 21 and be supported thereby. Hence when the box is closed, the bracket 28 will pass through the card opening 3% and prevent shifting of the card.

To further insure the accuracy of the system, I provide a number chart upon the upper portion of the card, as shown in Fig. 6, which may occupy the available space to the left of the opening 34 while that portion of p the card to the right provides space for the placing of the time stamp by the custodian,

as hereinbefore described. The objectof the numerical chart is to'conceal the designated numbenof the deposit box from any other patron, while atthe same time, I provide means, preferably upwardly extending points 37, in the top wall 21 of the frame member 21, whereby the closing of the lid ,will effect a perforation of the card in the manner shown at 36 in Fig. 6.

' The chart may be printed upon the card for instance with vertical and horizontally extending lines designated by numerals along the left margin, whereby any combination of numbers may be obtained over a wide range. As illustrated, the particular perforation may be determined by reading the designated marginal figures. It will readily be seen that a large number of permutations may be obtained by the use of such a chart.

To insure the perforating action of the points 37, I may provide a resilient pad 38 upon the inner surface of the cover member 11 to firmly press the card against the points to effect the perforation thereof.

To prevent tampering with the contents of the box by distorting or bending the lid or cover 11, I provide an inner loosely positioned lining 40 formed of heavy cardboard or a suitable fabric which may be folded in the manner illustrated. This lining may overlap as indicated at 41 to prevent the removal for instance, of valuable papers by insertion of a tool or wire, or a knife under the flange 12 of the cover while maintaining the front of the cover in closed relation to prevent perforation of'the card. The lining 40 may extend within the box the full length of the cover and rearwardly of the hinge construction 42 connecting the cover to the box. The forward end 43 of the top flap may extend over the horizontally disposed portion of the identification card which may be perforated as indicated at 34 Fig. 5 to permit free movement of the bracket 28 when closing or opening the box. This arrangement of having the member 28 extend through an opening in the top fiap of the lining affords a simple means of preventing a shifting of the lining.

It will be seen that from the foregoing description, I provide a system of checking the visits of the patrons of an institution renting or leasing safety deposit boxes which affords a double check on the accurate identification of the patrons before access to any designated safety deposit box is permitted, while at the same time, eliminating the use of either a single or double key system which is frequently annoying to the patron inasmuch as keys sometimes are forgotten or have become misplaced when a visit to the deposit box is contemplated. Moreover my system is very much cheaper than the individually locked compartments now in use, and in addition thereto an accurate check of the patrons visits may be kept by stamping the cards as indicated at C and C and filing them away for future reference.

I claim:

1. In a deposit box having a cover, a data card supported in the box and marking means within the box cooperating with the cover, to select a certain group of numbers on the card by marking the card.

2. In a safety deposit box having a cover, an identification card positioned behind the forward wall of the box, means behind the card coacting with the cover to mutilate the slip upon raising the cover, said means comprising a cantable member resiliently maintained out of contact with the card, a cam member pivotally mounted on the cover and coacting with the cantable member to mutilate the card.

3. A safety deposit box having a cover and perforating means rigidly mounted within the box for impressing certain indicia thereon corresponding to the number of the box upon a closing movement of the cover, said means comprising perforating members arranged in predetermined relations relative to the position of the card within the box, whereby the perforations effected upon the card will be in predetermined positions on a number chart printed upon a card.

4. The combination with a safety deposit box, of means for carrying a data card thereon provided with a numerical chart, and means operated automatically consequent upon opening and closing the box to punch the card and thus indicate numerals, the punching means being fixed for any particular box.

5. A safety deposit box having a movable cover, a data card having a numeral chart, means for carrying the data card on the box, and punches carried in fixed relation within the box and adapted to punch the chart to indicate numerals corresponding to the number of the box.

6. In a safety deposit system comprising a deposit box having a cover and carrying therein a card having a signature of the lessor of the box thereon, interiorly disposed means carried by the box whereby the cover cannot be closed without impressing certain marks completing indicia upon the card corresponding to the number of the box.

7. In a deposit box having a cover, a data slip supported in the box, and perforating means within said box co-operating with the cover whereby movement of the cover may cause the formation of punched openings in prearranged order which indicate numbers on the card corresponding to the number of the deposit box.

8. In a deposit box having a cover, a data card supported in the box, and perforating members within the box adapted to efiect punching marks on the card indicating the number of the box when said box is opened and closed.

9. In a safety deposit box, means for retaining a data card adjacent the inside front wall of the box, a defacing member for mutilating the card inside of the box, means carried by the cover for actuating said defacing member, and means also carried by the cover for preventing displacement of the card.

10. In a safety deposit box' system, comand means activeewhen the box is closed for prising a deposit box having a cover and preventing displacement of the cardwithin carrying therein a card having the signature thebox. p a of the lessor thereon,- interiorly disposed V In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix'my 5 means whereby the cover cannot be closed signature.

Without impressing certain marks upon the 7 a I r 7 card which indicate the number of the box, HOLMES MARSHALL. 

